What is the process regarding immigration, baggage collection and using the Pier or Wing upon arrival in Hong Kong?

If we arrive on the 5:40am CX flight from LAX and wish to use the Cabanas and freshen up prior to going into town, how does this work?

We are flying in First Class.

Thanks

Note 1: You MAY NOT use the Wing/Pier on arrival in HKG

1. Proceed to the immigration counters after deboarding, normally this flight arrives at a close gate, around 1-4, so the immigration counters are nearby. If not, you will have to proceed to the transfer system. As F class passengers, you will likely be ahead of everybody else. There are seperate lines for Hong Kong PIC holders and Visitors. After completing this process, proceed to the baggage claim area.

2. Your luggage will also be out first, since you are F passengers, and the luggage is priority tagged.

3. Proceed to customs

4. After passing customs, you will be in the arrivals hall, and may take the AEL, buses, taxis or your hotel transfer into Hong Kong.

Isn't the First Class Lounge at the Wing on the same level as the arrival hall with the Business Class Lounge down stairs?

I thought you could hang a left after clearing immigration and enter the First Class lounge prior to picking up your bags and clearing customs.

The only problem I see with this is what happens to your bags if you leave them on the carousel.

The ONLY way you can access either lounge upon ARRIVAL is if you have an onward connection where you will take one of the 3 transiting elevators from the arrival level to the departure ones. But since you are terminating in HKG, you'll be out of luck. Sorry about that.

No. All of the Wing is on level 7. Arrivals is on level 5.

The Pier takes up on space on level 5 but is only accessible through level 6 departures.

Arrivals and departures are COMPLETELY segregated at HKIA and as rejunivated has said there is no way to access the DEPARTURE lounges, of which The Wing and The Pier are, unless you are holding a valid onward DEPARTING boarding pass. Whether you are arriving in F, J or Y.

However most HKG hotels do early checkin, or will let you use their gym facilities to freshen up if your room happens not to be available on arrival.

I think this issue has been discussed before.. about why CX doesn't have an Arrivals lounge. I attributed to the fact that it may be an 'asian' thing. That airlines believe that people would want to get home as fast as possible instead of hanging around the airport some more. If we look at the other Asian airports, and their carriers, none of them offer an Arrivals lounge.

Could it be a Western thing that one must take a shower immediately after arrivals? Don't you want to go home or to the hotel so that one may refresh there instead?

Not an "arrivals lounge" per se, but Malaysia Airlines offers its arriving J and F passengers use of their very nice (and very well catered) Golden Lounge at KUL.

http://hq.malaysiaairlines.com/mys/e...en_lounges.asp

I used this lounge after my flight from NRT without an onward connection.

Wow, what a bummer. On our continuing flight several days later to Bali and then back to the US we will not have much connection time to enjoy the Wing and/or Pier.

Our best bet was upon arrival.

Our early check in at the Ritz is at 11:00am, so I don't know what we will be doing for 4 hours while we feel grimy and such.

Whats the point of having Cabanas when you are departing?

Precisely for those trips when you're connecting from a long-ish flight and have some time to kill before your next flight. After arriving from LHR, I loved being able to shower and then have a decent meal while waiting for my flight to SIN.

Some people go through the trouble of purchasing a fully refundable ticket just so they get back to the departure areas and the lounges. If you are so determined to visit the lounges, then this is a possibility. After you're done, just take the ticket back and get a refund.

Haha, I haven't heard of that one before. Interesting!

It's nearly a 3-hr connection if you're flying to LAX. How much time do you need? It's an airport lounge, not a destination resort.

I would be forced to agree:

Cabanas - at most, an hour
the Haven - at most, an hour
Surf the internet/reading material - remainder of the time.

You should be all set.

I have spent around 5 hours last time when I was at the Wing.
I arrrived at HKG @ 5:30am. Got to the lounge @ 6am (as they use the small one downstair before 6am).
Used the Cabana for around 2 hours (accidently fell asleep there)
Dine at the Haven for 1 hour
Served the net and finished my work for 1 hour
relax as the Library (reading chinese magazines for 1 hour)

Actually by that time i feel really bored and decided to go home and drop off some luggage before heading back to the lounge again for lunch (which was a good buffet) before our flight to YVR/JFK

When I said at most an hour, I was pushing it. I usually just take 45 minutes, and this involves soaking the tub, and having a quick shower after that. But maybe that's just me.